Exercising ball and support therefor



Jan. 9, 1940. J. R. EVANS v EXERCISING BALL AND SUPPORT THEREFOR 7 FiledJune 9; 1938 INVENTOR' Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED stares mm orriceEXERCISING BALL AND SUPPORT THEREFOR John K. Evans, West Pittston, Pa.Application June 9, 1938, Serial No. 212,695

Claims.

exercising device which may be readily used either in a gymnasium or inthe home and which v does not require any expensive or cumbersomeapparatus or accessories for its use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved exercisingdevice which is very compact and may be readily folded into a small '3package and carried in the pocket when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that will assistin training the eye, and enable the user to more efiiciently gauge thespeed and direction of moving objects.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various improveddetails of construction and novel methods of operation as will be morefully set forth in the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device illustrating the position ofthe parts at rest.

Fig. 1A is a front sectional view showing manner of attaching the cordto the ball.

Fig. 2 shows side view of a metal eyelet used in the end of the spring.

Fig. 2A shows plan View of the metal eyelet shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view taken through the forward positionof the handle bar showing the cord attached to handle bar.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative arrangement whereby the cord is attached tolower end of the spring rather than directly to the hand bar.

1) Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the device illustrating the same inan operative position in the hands of the user, showing that the ballmay be kicked back over the head and returned to starting position,thereby describing a complete circle.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herewith, l0 designatesthe handle bar made of wood or metal as shown in Fig. 1. Coil spring I lis attached directly non-rotatably to handle bar ll]. Guard 16 at thelower end of coil spring ll is of metal and rounded to prevent wear ofballsupporting cord l2. The cord l2 may be made of leather, fibre,elastic, or similar material and may extend through guard I6 and coilspring II and be attached directly to handle bar l0 and metal swivel i3as shown in Fig, 1; or according to an alternative arrangement as shownin Fig. 4, the cord may be attached to lower end of the coil spring I Iinstead of being passed through the spring for connection with thehand-bar.

A swivel connection designated by numeral l3 5 in the drawing, issecured to the free end of cord l2 for the purpose of removablyattaching the cord to ball IS. The swivel connector also eliminatestwisting, kinking and raveling of the cord l2 when the ball is connectedthereto and yet the ball may spin freely on the end of the cord while inuse. Eye bolt M is permanently attached to the ball and countersunk inan indentation in the surface of the ball. Ball l5 may be detached fromthe cord and used for batting or throwing purposes, if desired. The ballI5 is supported from the elastic, fibre, or cord of similarmateriaL'member l2, and handle bar I!) by means of an eye bolt andwasher l4 and swivel l3 when the device is to be used as a kicking bag.As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing the ball l5 may be'struck by thetoesof the user to drive it in an arc to the limit of its movement asdetermined by the cord l2, fromwhich position it will be returned by thecord towards the foot of the user.

.Knot l'l, Fig. 3, designates means of attachment of ball supportingcord 12 to handle bar Ill. The knot is inset in handle bar iii, andfigures in the adjustment of ball supporting cord 12 to the desiredlength. 30

It will be seen that the device shown and described provides a novelform of kicking bag or exercising device which is capable of use as akicking bag either in a gymnasium or in an ordinary room and is adaptedto promote coordination of eye and muscle. The device is well adaptedfor training soccer, and football players to develop accuracy in kickingthe ball, as well as developing muscles of the players.

What I claim is: 40

1. A device of the character described, comprising a hand-bar to be heldhorizontally between the hands above the head of the user, a cord, oneend of the cord being secured to the hand-bar, the other end of the cordextending downwardly 45 to a point below the knees and above the feet ofthe user and attached through the medium of a swivel connection to aball to be kicked by the users feet.

2. A device of the character described, compris- 5O ing a hand-bar to beheld horizontally between the hands above the head of the user, a coilspring attached to the midpoint of the hand-bar and extending normalthereto, a cord, one end of the cord being secured to the free end ofthe coil 55 spring, the other end of the cord extending downwardly andsupporting a ball in a position freely suspended at the users feet sothat the ball may be readily kicked by the users feet.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a hand-bar to be heldhorizontally between the hands above the head of the user, a coil springattached to the mid-point of the hand-bar and extending normal thereto,a cord, one end of the cord extending through the spring and beingsecured to the hand-bar, the other end of the cord extending downwardlyto a point below the knees and above the feet of the user and supportinga ball in a position freely suspended at the users feet so that the ballmay be readily kicked by the users feet.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a hand-bar to be heldhorizontally between the hands above the head of the user, a coil springattached to the mid-point of the hand-bar and extending normal thereto,a cord, one end of the cord being secured to the free end of the coilspring, the other end of the cord extending downwardly to a point belowthe knees and above the feet .of the user and attached through themedium of a swivel connection to a ball to be kicked by the users feet.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a hand-bar to be heldhorizontally between the hands above the head of the user, a cord, oneend of the cord being secured to the hand-bar, the other end of the cordextending downwardly to a point below the knees and above the feet ofthe user and secured to a ball, the ball being freely suspended in a.position to be kicked by the users feet.

JOHN R. EVANS.

